Luminaire for books and book-like objects

ABSTRACT

A luminaire is disposed within a book or book-like object. A pressure-operated switch or sensor switch is associated with the luminaire and comes into operation in the event of a horizontal displacement of the book or book-like object. The illumination is formed by non-warming light sources.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a luminaire for books and book-like objects, the luminaire being arranged within the book or object.

It has been known to arrange a light source within books which can be seen, once it has been switched on, from the transparent spine of the book.

The invention is based on the object of designing a luminaire of the explained generic type such that it comes into operation in the event of a displacement of the book or book-like object and radiates downwards, upwards or to the side.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a lighting device for a book or a book-like object that overcomes the disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a luminaire assembly for a book or a book-like object, comprising:

a luminaire disposed in the book or the book-like object; and

a pressure-operated switch or sensor switch configured to operated the luminaire when the book or book-like object is displaced in a horizontal direction.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the pressure-operated switch or sensor switch is disposed adjacent a spine of the book.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the switch and elements for electronically triggering a displacement operation are hidden.

It is a preferred embodiment of the invention, to provide illumination by way of non-warming lights, i.e., substantially non-exothermic light sources.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the luminaire includes an illumination device with more than one light source. Preferably, there is provided at least one strip of light sources. The strip may be in one or more straight lines.

In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, there is provided at least one transparent structure in a boundary forming the side walls. In a preferred embodiment, the transparent structure is formed by one or more vertically extending stripes.

In other words, the objects are achieved according to the invention by disposing a pressure-operated switch or sensor switch which comes into operation in the event of a displacement in the horizontal direction. The pressure-operated switch is expediently arranged adjacent to the spine of the book.

In accordance with a particularly expedient embodiment of the invention, there is provided a hidden arrangement of elements for electronically triggering the displacement operation. The illumination is expediently formed by non-warming light sources, i.e., substantially non-exothermic lighting. It is possible for the illumination to be formed by more than one light source, in a preferred embodiment at least one strip of light sources being arranged on which two or more light sources are arranged in a straight line. Particularly visual effects are achieved by the arrangement of at least one transparent structure in the side walls forming the boundaries, i.e. on the front or rear of the book, it being possible for the transparent structure to be formed by one or more vertically extending stripes or other symbols.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a luminaire for books and book-like objects, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a vertical section through a book;

FIG. 2 shows a view from below of the book shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an perspective view of a file folder;

FIG. 4 is a variant embodiment of FIG. 1 with the arrangement of strips of light sources;

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a vertical section through a container for CD cases having a strip of light sources; and

FIG. 6A is as for FIG. 6, but in this case shows a container for DVD cases.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a pressure-operated switch 1 that is disposed on the base of the book 7. The device is switched on, in the event of a displacement of the book 7 in the horizontal direction, when the switch 1 is located outside the horizontal bearing surface. The pressure-operated switch 1 is connected to an electrical cable 2 with a transformer 3 being interconnected. The light source 4 radiates downwards once it has been switched on.

In one variant in accordance with FIG. 4, no individual light source is arranged, rather a strip of light sources 5 having two or more light sources 4 (such as LEDs or the like) which are located one vertically on top of the other and radiate to the sides. As shown in FIG. 5, the strip of light sources 5 is arranged on both sides close to the spine of the book.

In place of a book, book-like objects may also be provided with the luminaire according to the invention. For example, FIG. 3 shows a file 8 and FIG. 6 shows a container for CD cases 6 and FIG. 6A shows a container for DVD cases 9.

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German patent application No. 20 2004 018 455.9, filed Nov. 29, 2004; the entire disclosure of the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference. 

1. A luminaire assembly for a book or a book-like object, comprising: a luminaire disposed in the book or the book-like object; and a pressure-operated switch or sensor switch configured to operated said luminaire when said book or book-like object is displaced in a horizontal direction.
 2. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein said pressure-operated switch or sensor switch is disposed adjacent a spine of the book.
 3. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein said switch and elements for electronically triggering a displacement operation are hidden.
 4. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein said luminaire includes substantially non-exothermic light sources.
 5. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein said luminaire includes an illumination device with more than one light source.
 6. The luminaire according to claim 5, wherein said luminaire includes at least one strip of light sources.
 7. The luminaire according to claim 6, wherein said light sources are disposed in at least one strip of light sources along a straight line.
 8. The luminaire according to claim 1, which comprises a housing with said walls and at least one transparent structure in a boundary forming said side walls.
 9. The luminaire according to claim 8, wherein said transparent structure is formed by one or more vertically extending stripes. 